Bruno Kestemont Lv 1
I agree with spmm that Community rules AND a kind of social control is the only sustainable tool we have to avoid cheating.
Knowing that, as BitSpawn wrote, it's technically possible and relatively "easy" to "exact" copy a shared solution (there is a case in history – just mentioning that a player was banned for this), probably using various means including scripts. But yes, it is technically possible and I suppose it will ever be so.
There are 2 potential "victims" of such type of cheating:
-the soloists inside group, sharing with their group;
-the open groups, subject to clandestine passengers coming in, loading a solution and going out
(note that a group cheating on other groups is impossible since any share is marked with it's group origin)
I must admit that, in the past, I ever had the impression "our" very top solution in a small open group was copied the latest day by another player. It made me paranoiac, but I cured.
Being in an open group and sharing a lot, I'm still a typical potential "victim" of this.
My feeling today, as a potential victim, is that I'm always free to share or not to share.
Or to join a closed group with only players I trust.
In a paranoiac phase, I could retain sharing anything (including recipes and tips). In an enthusiast phase, I may share everything I created myself.
Conclusion after this philosophic thinkings: I now fully agree with spmm :)